In need of arms, who's on the shopping list for Cleveland Indians at the deadline?

Cleveland Plain Dealer | Jul 15

It's July, so the two big questions concerning the Indians have to be:

No.1: Are they a real contender?

No.2: If they are, will they make a trade sometime before the July 31 or Aug. 31 deadlines to try and make the postseason for the first time since 2007?

For the sake of argument, let's deal in the present, which would make the Indians a contender. It didn't look like that Friday night or Saturday afternoon against Detroit, but they have played well for much of the first half.

So what are their main needs? First and foremost, the Indians need a front-of-the-rotation starter to go with Justin Masterson. It's an easy need to admit to, but much harder to actually go out and fill.

Matt Garza of the Cubs is available. He had injury problems last year, but he's won his last three starts, allowing three runs in 22 innings. Garza is a free agent at the end of the season. The rebuilding Cubs want prospects. The Indians would not receive draft pick compensation under the new basic agreement if Garza left through free agency at the end of the year.

Houston's Bud Norris, a right-hander like Garza, is available. He could help and won't be a free agent until 2016. Like the Cubs, the Astros are rebuilding. Would Norris, currently 6-7 with a 3.22 ERA in 18 starts, be worth Danny Salazar, Tyler Naquin and one or two other top prospects?